Russia ”tried to test’ NATO with “dud” drones: Poland

Russia “tried to test” NATO when multiple drones crossed into Polish airspace, Warsaw’s foreign minister has said.

Why It Matters

Nearly 20 Russian drones crossed over into Poland early on Wednesday after extensive attacks on neighboring Ukraine. Around three are thought to have been shot down in operations backed by other NATO countries.

Russian uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) crossing into Poland were “not an isolated incident,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said as the alliance announced new measures to shore up its eastern flank bordering Russia.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was the closest Warsaw had been to open conflict since World War II.

Officials across NATO have warned that Russia could be ready to launch some form of armed attack on the alliance in the near future. Moscow already frequently launches hybrid or gray zone attacks on the alliance, member nations say. This refers to operations that fall short of open warfare, like weaponizing migration or carrying out cyberattacks.

What To Know

“They were all duds, which suggests to me that Russia tried to test us without starting a war,” Radosław Sikorski told British newspaper The Guardian in an article published on Sunday. Moscow has denied targeting Poland.

Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email.

NATO members are collectively obliged to respond to attacks on other alliance nations under Article 5 of the founding treaty. Drones and missiles entering NATO airspace in Poland and Romania—which has happened fairly regularly—have not been treated as attacks on the alliance so far.

Poland triggered Article 4 of NATO’s treaty after the incursions. This article says that members will “consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened.” NATO said Article 4 has been triggered eight times in the alliance’s history.

Sikorski said the “drones didn’t reach their targets and there was minor damage to property, nobody was hurt.” Speculation had swirled over the readiness of air defenses in Poland, with several of the drones reaching deep into its territory.

Romanian authorities said a Russian drone had crossed into its airspace on Saturday, but that the UAV left the country’s airspace without causing damage or casualties. Romanian F-16 fighter jets tracked the object, supported by German aircraft currently stationed in the country, Bucharest said.

Poland’s military separately said it had not confirmed any violations of the country’s airspace after fighter jets were scrambled on Saturday afternoon.

“The Russian military knows exactly where their drones are headed and how long they can operate in the air,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late on Saturday. “This cannot be a coincidence, a mistake, or the initiative of some lower-level commanders.”

On Friday, NATO launched what it dubbed “Eastern Sentry,” designed to bolster the alliance’s flank on Russia’s border after Moscow’s drone incursions into Poland. Denmark will put forward two F-16 fighter jets and an anti-air warfare frigate, while France will contribute three Rafale jets and Germany four Eurofighters, the alliance said in a press release.

What People Are Saying

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said last week: “I have no reason to claim we’re on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it’s incomparably more dangerous than before.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said: “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones?”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters: “No doubt about it: the drones were intentionally launched. The question is whether the drones were targeted to go into Poland specifically.”

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday: “It is an obvious expansion of the war by Russia—and this is exactly how they act. Small steps at first, and eventually big losses.”